COLLEGE MATRICULATION (2012–2016) American University Amherst College Babson College Bard College Barnard College Bates College Berklee College of Music Bentley University Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Brandeis University Brown University Bryn Mawr College Bucknell University Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University Champlain College Chapman University Clark University Clarkson University Colby College Colgate University College of the Holy Cross Connecticut College Cornell University Dartmouth College Davidson College Dickinson College Elon University Emerson College Emory University Fairfield University Fordham University Franklin and Marshall College Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Gettysburg College Goucher College Grinnell College Guilford College Hamilton College
Hampshire College Harvey Mudd College Harvard University High Point University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Howard University Ithaca College Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College Lafayette College Lehigh University Lewis and Clark College Macalester College Marist College McGill University Middlebury College Mount Holyoke College Muhlenberg College New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Oberlin College Pomona College Providence College Quinnipiac University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design Rice University Rochester Institute of Technology Saint Michael’s College Scripps College Sewanee: The University of the South Skidmore College Smith College Southern Methodist University Springfield College St. Lawrence University St. Olaf College Stanford University Stonehill College
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Swarthmore College Syracuse University The College of Wooster The George Washington University The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill The University of Texas, Austin Trinity College Tufts University Tulane University Union College United States Military Academy, West Point University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of Colorado, Boulder University of Kentucky University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan University of New Hampshire University of Pennsylvania University of Richmond University of Rochester University of Southern California University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Wisconsin, Madison Vassar College Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Wesleyan University Wheaton College (MA) Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Yale University
SCHOOL PROFILE
2016–2017
19 Payso n Avenue, Easthampto n, M A 01027 |
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413 .529.3 293 | WWW.WILLISTON.COM
CEEB CODE: 220725
The Williston Northampton School inspires students to live with purpose, passion, and integrity. Now in its 176th year, Williston is shaped by its location in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, an area defined by its natural beauty, prestigious colleges and universities, and rich intellectual and cultural history. We benefit from academic and cultural collaboration with the nearby Five Colleges to offer a holistic, rigorous education that integrates academics, athletics, and community life to promote high achievement for all our students according to their individual strengths, interests, and goals. In all grades, students work with committed and enthusiastic faculty to hone skills in conducting research, thinking critically, and becoming leaders. The 125-acre Williston campus, less than three hours from New York City and two hours from Boston, is located in the eclectic arts town of Easthampton. ENROLLMENT
Total upper school students: 419 Boarding students: 242 Day students: 177 International students: 20% Class of 2017: 110 seniors; 12 PGs Students hail from 22 states and 26 countries
Director of College Counseling Catherine McGraw cmcgraw@williston.com Associate Director of College Counseling Emily McDowell emcdowell@williston.com Assistant Director of College Counseling Kara DeMichiel kdemichiel@williston.com College Counselor Kate McKillop kmckillop@williston.com College Counselor Tom Beaton tbeaton@williston.com
The 2016-2017 student body (as of 8/25/2016)
Domestic students of color: 18%
Head of School Robert W. Hill III
Williston is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member
1 9 Payson Av e nue, E asthamp ton , M A 0 1 0 2 7
of the National Association
WWW.WI LLI STON.COM
of Independent Schools.
Testing Coordinator and Academic Tutor Molly Couch Ward ’82 mward@williston.com Office Manager Dianne King dking@williston.com
FACULTY AND ADVISORS Williston has 95 faculty members, of which 67% hold advanced degrees (master’s and doctorates). The advisor to student ratio is 6:1. The average class size is 12. ACADEMIC PROGRAM One academic credit is assigned per class per trimester. Students generally take five courses per trimester, and must complete a minimum of 57 academic credits in grades 9 through 12 to receive a diploma. These requirements allow for considerable choice while ensuring a rigorous and balanced academic environment. Credits must include: English Language and Literature: 12 History and Global Studies: 8 Foreign Language: 6 Mathematics: 9 Science: 6 Visual and Performing Arts: 3
GRADE DISTRIBUTION Williston does not rank its students. The grade distribution below reflects grades that are not weighted. Grade point averages are weighted for Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses including Williston Scholars and Writers’ Workshop. Grades are determined as follows: A: 90–100
B: 80–89
C: 70–79
D: 60–69
Grades of 87 and above are considered honors; grades of 92 and above are considered high honors. A grade of below 60 is a failing grade. Junior year averages for the 125-member Class of 2016 are listed below.
A
English Fine & Performing Arts History & Global Studies Language Mathematics Science
57 51 8 2 0 31 4 2 0 0 48 47 8 1 0 35 28 5 2 0 77 39 11 1 1 65 47 16 1 0
B
C D F
ADVANCED COURSES Of the 155 courses offered at the school in 2015-2016, 49 were designated as Honors or Advanced Placement (AP). These work at an accelerated pace and go beyond normal curriculum requirements. The AP courses are comparable to introductory offerings at the college level. Special Note: Honors Biology, Chemistry, and Physics were added to the course offerings starting in 2016-2017. English AP English Language 11 AP English Literature 12 Honors Williston Scholars English Writers’ Workshop Visual & Performing Arts AP Music Theory AP Studio Art Honors Williston Scholars Visual Arts Honors Williston Scholars Performing Arts History & Global Studies AP Comparative Government and Politics AP European History AP Microeconomics AP United States Government AP United States History Honors Williston Scholars History and Global Studies
Language AP Chinese Language: Culture and Literacy Honors French II Honors French III Honors French V: Readings Honors French V: Composition Honors French V: Francophone Themes AP French Language Honors Latin II Honors Latin III AP Latin Honors Spanish II Honors Spanish III Honors Spanish V: Readings Honors Spanish V: Composition Honors Spanish V: Hispanic Themes AP Spanish Language
Mathematics AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC and Multivariable Calculus AP Computer Science AP Statistics Honors Geometry Honors Algebra II Honors Precalculus Honors Discrete Mathematics Science AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science AP Physics I AP Physics II AP Physics C AP Psychology Honors Williston Scholars Science Honors Chemistry Honors Physics Honors Biology
ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES In 2015-2016, Williston Northampton offered 23 AP courses and more than 200 students completed 405 exams.
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS AND POINTS OF DISTINCTION WILLISTON SCHOLARS The Williston Scholars program allows students to pursue their individual academic and creative passions through a trimester of directed project work in a field of interest. Students engage in research projects they choose, under the close mentorship and instruction of a faculty member, and are guided through the steps of project development, research, implementation, and presentation. They connect with content experts both inside the school and out, drawing upon the intellectual resources of the Pioneer Valley’s colleges and universities. Participation is by application and classes are designated at the honors level. Students with exemplary projects are eligible for special recognition and departmental honors.
their work and speak about the creative process. They then teach a master class on the craft of writing. Participation is by application and classes are designated at the honors level.
WE THE PEOPLE In conjunction with the year-long AP United States Government class, Williston offers students the opportunity to participate in the “We the People” program offered by the Center for Civic Education. Students compete in local, state, and national academic competitions that assess their understanding of the history, philosophy, and development of governmental institutions; as well as their ability to present, explain, and apply their knowledge in the format of a congressional hearing. In the 2015–16 year, Williston’s AP U.S. Government class placed first in Massachusetts and travelled to Washington, D.C., to compete at the national level.
CORE PROGRAM FOR NINTH GRADERS CORE provides ninth graders with an integrated support system to facilitate their transition to high school. Based on the the values of Curiosity, Organization, Reflection, and Empathy, the program begins with an overnight orientation trip and continues all year with special workshops, assemblies, social events, and advisory meetings.
WRITERS’ WORKSHOP Writers’ Workshop is a two-trimester class where students gain insight into the creative process of writing fiction and nonfiction and engage with authors who have made a successful career in writing. Over the course of the program, four prominent published authors visit the school to read from
CAMPUS STATS 125 acres 10 large and small dormitories Technology center Professional theater and costume shop Dance studio, music lab, photo studio Student center 6 art studios and gallery 34 student clubs
Athletic facilities • 12 tennis courts • Enclosed ice rink • 4 international squash courts • 6-lane pool • All-weather 8-lane track • New cross-country course • 9 state-of-the-art playing fields, including two synthetic turf fields, one with lights
AFTERNOON PROGRAM Participation in athletics or afternoon activities is required in all three trimesters. Students may choose from 35 interscholastic sports offered at the varsity, junior varsity, and beginner levels, as well as the arts (visual, music, performance, theater production), community service, and robotics. Fifty graduating athletes (40 percent) were recruited in 2015–16 to play in college, 24 at Division 1 or 2 schools. Ten of Williston’s teams reached NEPSAC championship games, with four winning titles.
CUM LAUDE SOCIETY The highest honor for a student is election to the Cum Laude Society, a national organization modeled after Phi Beta Kappa. Students eligible for election are those seniors in the top 10 percent of their class who, in the judgment of the faculty membership, combine academic excellence and achievement with honorable citizenship, sound character, and active participation in school life. CURRICULAR TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM The Curricular Technology Program (CTP) reflects Williston’s commitment to prepare students for success in the high school and college classroom through information technology. Each student and faculty member receives a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and access to tools such as OneDrive, OneNote, and video and audio conferencing, allowing for new levels of collaboration and productivity, in and out of the classroom. For the third year in a row, Williston has been named a Microsoft Showcase School. LANGUAGE IMMERSION In addition to intensive language study in the Williston curriculum, the school’s language department offers a School Year Abroad program (SYA). Designed expressly for high school students with an emphasis on academics, SYA has programs in China, France, Italy, and Spain.